- Professor Emeritus Kim Jang-joo at Seoul National University and Professor Sung Yung-eun at Seoul National University each awarded KRW 200 million and a plaque

- Started from 1973 in honor of the founder’s commitment to nurturing future generations, and sponsored continuously by the Samyang Group

▲  The Sudang Foundation held the 30th Sudang Awards on May 3 in Lotte Hotel, Seoul.

From left to right: President Kim Yoon of the Sudang Foundation, Professor Emeritus Kim Jang-joo at Seoul National University Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and his wife, Professor Sung Yung-eun at Seoul National University School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and his wife, and Chair Jin Jeong-il of the Sudang Awards Steering Committee.

The Samyang Group Sudang Foundation (President: Chairman Kim Yoon of Samyang Holdings) announced on May 4 that it held the 30th Sudang Awards on May 3 in Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul.

This year’s Sudang Awards for Applied Sciences went to Professor Emeritus Kim Jang-joo (66) at Seoul National University Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Professor Sung Yung-eun (57) at Seoul National University School of Chemical and Biological Engineering. Each received KRW 200 million and a plaque in the ceremony.

Sudang Awards were created to continue the belief of the Samyang Group’s founder Sudang Kim Yeon-su in nurturing talented individuals. Researchers who contributed to academic progress in Korea are selected and awarded every year. The Awards started out as the Sudang Science Awards in 1973 and had been hosted by the Kyungbang HR Fostering Association up to the 14th event. It was discontinued temporarily but continued by the Sudang Foundation in 2006 by renaming it as the Sudang Awards and expanding categories in Natural Sciences and Humanities. From 2008, with the Applied Sciences added, awardees from three categories have been selected and each given KRW 100 million and a plaque. There has been a slight change in the selection process starting this year; recommendation letters were received from three categories and two researchers with great achievements were selected regardless of the category. Furthermore, the award money has been increased from KRW 100 million to KRW 200 million to facilitate and motivate research activities. Since the inception of the Sudang Awards, Samyang Group has sponsored the Awards so far.

The award ceremony started with greetings from President Kim Yoon of the Sudang Foundation. It was followed by a progress report by Chair Jin Jeong-il of the Sudang Awards Steering Committee, an introductory video, award acceptance speeches, and photo opportunities. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, only the minimum number of people attended the ceremony, including winners in award categories.

Based on its corporate philosophy for social contribution ‘Provide an opportunity to make dreams come true,’ Samyang Group is providing scholarship programs and academics support programs in basic sciences and humanities through the Yang Young Foundation and the Sudang Foundation. The two Foundations have funded scholarships and grants for over 20,000 students, 600 professors, and other research groups. In particular, the Yang Young Association, a predecessor to the Yang Young Foundation, is recognized for being Korea’s first corporate social contribution activity.